An end may be in sight to the row over manorial rights affecting 4,000 Anglesey householders an Assembly Member said.

Cheshire businessman Stephen Hayes told island AM Rhun ap Iorwerth he is willing to give up his pursuit of manorial rights on their properties.

More than 800 people who attended a meeting at Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge, heard Mr ap Iorwerth had spoken to Mr Hayes moments before the meeting.

He said: “I have been in contact with Mr Hayes for several weeks and had hoped he would not take his claim any further.

“I spoke with him just before the meeting and he told me he was planning to sell the title but not the manorial rights that go with it.

“That is indeed good news and I will be working with Mr Hayes now to confirm that statement.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Video will play in

Share this video

Watch Next

"Mr Hayes told me he didn't want to take this any further.

"My job is now to talk with the Land Registry, with Mr Hayes again, to confirm that indeed he does want to drop this claim which has caused such a headache and anxiety to people on Anglesey."

More than 800 people who attended a meeting at Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge, about Stephen Hayes pursuit of manorial rights (Photo: Arwyn Roberts)

He said the meeting, called after Mr Hayes wrote to the householders informing them he had registered his rights as Lord of the Treffos manor, was proof that the matter had caused “considerable anxiety”.

Manorial rights originated in the Middle Ages when land was divided between feudal lords such as the church or Crown and gave the holder rights to hunt, fish, and mine for minerals.

Lords of the Manor had a deadline of October 2013 to register their claims or see them extinguished.

Mr Hayes’ claim covers an area of 10,500 acres from Llanddona to Llanfairpwll and includes much of Menai Bridge town.

Solicitors have been indundated by calls from residents worried about the effect the rights claimed might have on house sales.

One said he was concerned the rights could be bought up by companies to drill for shale gas on people's land.